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Top 10 Things to Do with Kids in Indianapolis

A top-notch children's museum, a zoo, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and other kid-friendly destinations will keep your family busy during a weekend getaway in Indianapolis.

Writer: Amy Lynch

1) The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis There’s a Dinosaur Dig excavation site. A brilliant Chihuly-inspired Fireworks of Glass display. Hands-on science experiments galore. A full-size indoor carousel. And a brand-new Playscape section specifically geared toward babies, toddlers and preschoolers. Plenty to play with, for sure, but the world’s largest children’s museum doesn’t shy away from sending out some meaningful messages, too. For instance, the touching Power of Children: Making a Difference highlights the lives of Anne Frank, Ruby Bridges and Ryan White. (317) 334-3322; childrensmuseum.org

2) Indianapolis Zoo Pet a shark, race a cheetah (NASCAR driver Tony Stewart narrates the feature), hand-feed a giraffe, and stand just inches away from a majestic Amur tiger. Garden geeks and green thumbs will enjoy wandering through the glorious White River Gardens, included in the price of admission. The flashy International Orangutan Center opens in 2014 with a beacon of light fixture the primates are going to activate. (317) 630-2001; indyzoo.com

3) White River State Park Block off an entire day to explore the museums packing this sprawling 250-acre park. The Indiana State Museum’s exterior offers a Where’s Waldo-like hunt for limestone blocks representing the state’s 92 counties, and the Eugene and Marilyn Glick Indiana History Center’s 3-D You Are There exhibit takes you back to earlier decades with misty projections of historical photographs you can walk through. The Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art provides a moving look at Wild West culture, as well as classy gift shop souvenirs like pottery, paintings and turquoise jewelry. Sports fans will want to shoot some hoops at the NCAA Hall of Champions and take in a game at Victory Field, home to Indianapolis Indians Triple-A baseball. Tired of walking? Rent a Segway or a pedal boat to cruise the canal for some outstanding photo ops of the downtown skyline. (317) 233-2434; inwhiteriver.com

4)Conner Prairie This living-history museum is a standard stop for school field trips, but new storytelling has freshened up visits for both kids and adults. The homespun costumed interpreters are still on hand to immerse guests in 1836 pioneer life at the Prairietown area, but now you can also check out a rustic nature path, a Civil War-theme play area and a 1859 hot-air balloon ride. The raw and sometimes emotionally harrowing Follow the North Star program immerses you in the role of a runaway slave as bounty hunters track your every move through the fields. (317) 776-6006; connerprairie.org (Photo courtesy of Conner Prairie)

5) Indianapolis Motor Speedway When in Indy, you simply must go to the site of the legendary Indianapolis 500. Check out the 75 or so race cars within the Hall of Fame Museum; see the faces of past Indy 500 winners on the Borg-Warner trophy; and take a lap by bus around the storied racetrack. When standing on the hallowed “yard of bricks,” it’s up to you if you want to kiss them like the racing champions do. (317) 492-8500; indianapolismotorspeedway.com

6) Indianapolis Museum of Art Art museums don’t often rank high on most kids’ to-do lists, but this one should. Yes, there are several floors of gorgeous galleries and a well-vetted gift shop, but the IMA also gives antsy kids something to do during seasonal Art in the Park activities and at the Indianapolis Star Family Studio. Afterward, let little ones loose in the Virginia B. Fairbanks Art and Nature Park: 100 Acres, where they can play with a dozen large-scale sculptures and installations. Snap a requisite touristy photo in front of the Robert Indiana Love sculpture on your way in or out. (317) 923-1331; imamuseum.org (Photo courtesy of Indianapolis Museum of Art)

8) Imax Theater On the second floor of the Indiana State Museum in White River State Park, this six-story movie screen is the biggest in Indiana. The sound and pictures are so lifelike, they may be a little too intense for some youngsters. But if you’re in the mood for a memorable 3-D film experience, this theater is the best in town. (317) 233-4629; imax.com/oo/imax-indiana-state-museum/ (Photo courtesy of Imax Theater)

9) Caribbean Cove Waterpark, Hotel and Conference Center This 50,000-square-foot indoor water park—with Jungle Rumble and Raging Rapids water slides, a plunge pool, spray features and a lazy river—makes the average hotel offerings look like kiddie pools. You don’t need to be a hotel guest to visit, but the stay-and-play packages are a good deal if you need overnight accommodations (some also include admission to the Children’s Museum or Indianapolis Zoo). (317) 872-9790; caribbeancovewaterpark.com

10) Mug N Bun The kids will think it’s fun to pull up, park and flash your headlights for carhop service at this classic Hoosier drive-in, but the outdoor picnic area is also a decent place to sit when the weather’s nice. Load up on traditional diner fare like burgers, fries, hot dogs and onion rings washed down with a milkshake or a frosty mug of the secret-recipe root beer (the stuff’s so popular, you can buy gallons and half-gallons to-go). (317) 244-5669; mug-n-bun.com